FEC progresses 1,500-home Manchester proposals 

Far East Consortium has launched a consultation on the Red Bank masterplan, while fleshing out plans to redevelop three plots along Dantzic Street.

FEC, Manchester City Council’s development partner for the £4bn Victoria North regeneration project, aims to submit an outline application for around 4,000 homes at Red Bank early next year. 

A separate detailed planning application for 1,500 homes across buildings reaching 34 storeys, which is being designed by Hawkins\Brown and Maccreanor Lavington, is expected at the same time.

Fresh masterplan images have been unveiled alongside the consultation.

In total, the 37-acre Red Bank area – one of seven neighbourhoods to be created within Victoria North – would feature 5,500 homes.

Of these, 4,000 would be delivered on land controlled by the city council and FEC. This figure does not include the 634-home Victoria Riverside development, which is under construction. 

A £51.6m package of enabling work to prepare Red Bank for redevelopment is currently underway. The government funding must be spent by 2024. 

Red Bank will be guided by Far East Consortium’s ‘wild urbanism’ concept.  

Wild urbanism, created in partnership with masterplanners Maccreanor Lavington and Schulze+Grassov, refers to a vision of blending and connecting the built environment with the urban nature of the River Irk Valley, according to FEC. 

A revitalised St Catherine’s Wood, part of the wider 115-acre City River Park, forms a key part of the plans for Red Bank.    

“We have been very busy over the last 12 months building on our vision for Red Bank and adding more detail to our plans,” said Hilary Brett, project director at FEC. 

“We are excited to share some early imagery of the neighbourhood which shows the quality spaces we intend to create through our Wild Urbanism concept which will unlock the potential of the river.  

“We have also identified the next phases for delivery which have the potential to deliver more than 1,500 new homes. We encourage residents, local businesses and stakeholders to come along to speak to the team to find out more.”